Crime and Punishment--Is Rasko

In Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov concocts a theory: All men are divided into ‘ordinary’ and ‘extraordinary’. The extraordinary man should have the right to eliminate a few people in order to make his idea known to all humanity; however, the ordinary man has no right to transgress the law. Because he believes this theory is an idea that must be known to all humanity, he considers himself extraordinary; however, there is a legion of events that prove that Raskolnikov is not extraordinary.

One can be sure that Raskolnikov believes himself to be extraordinary when Porfiry says, “...surely you couldn’t have helped...fancying yourself...an ‘extraordinary’ man, uttering a new word in your sense.... That’s so, isn’t it?” to which Raskolnikov replies, “Quite possibly” (247).

Raskolnikov was strongly prompted to murder Alyona when he recalled a conversation that took place between two ordinary men in a bar. One declared: I could kill that damned old woman and make off with her money without the faintest conscious-prick.... For one life, thousands would be saved from corruption and decay.... Besides, what value has the life of that sickly, stupid, ill-natured old woman in the balance of existence? (63)

Raskolnikov reasoned that it would be honorable to kill Alyona since it would supposedly benefit humanity, but the fact that “ordinary” men had the same idea should have immediately put a stop to any thoughts that he was extraordinary.

During Raskolnikov’s visit to the police station to retrieve his pledges, he and Porfiry become engaged in conversation involving the theory. Porfiry voiced concerns about ordinary people mistaking themselves as extra-ordinary. Raskolnikov responded with, “...[Ordinary people] might have a thrashing sometimes for letting their fancy run away with them and to teach them their place... (244)”....

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Crime and Punishment Notebook
Book 1
Pg 1-“He had become so completely absorbed in himself, and isolated from his fellows that he dreaded meeting, not only his landlady, but any one at all.” This quote, having been said so early on, really displays how isolated Raskolnikov is from everyone else in his life. He seems to live in some kind of “dread” of human interaction and appears to only really need himself.
Pg 4- “He was positively going now for a “rehearsal” of his project, and at every step his excitement grew more and more violent.” This quote really shows the beginning of the criminal in Raskolnikov. He is actually “rehearsing” his crime and becoming excited about as if he ready to do it. The fact that Dostoevsky uses the word “violent” in describing his excitement makes the whole scene and inner character of Raskolnikov more criminal-like.
Pg 4 – Raskolnikov, despite, his sins, really is not a bad person. In fact, in order for him to get through the murder, he must ask himself “what would it be if it somehow came to pass that I were really going to do it?” In this passage, we see that he really has no desire to commit the crime, but does so in an out of body experience.
Pg 8 – On his way to commit the old woman’s murder, Raskolnikov turns to alcohol to steady himself. This is part of the developing theme that alcohol chases away all problems. It is also interesting due to the common Russian...

...Raskolnikov's article, "On Crime," is vital to the understanding of his beliefs. This article also has a profound effect on Crime and Punishment as a whole, the subject matter being one of the main themes of the novel. The idea of the "extraordinary man" is referred to literally throughout the book, but also notable is the subconscious effect the idea has on Raskolnikov. Sometimes Raskolnikov is not even aware of this influence. It is important to note originality, or the ability to "utter a new word," as a defining characteristic of the extraordinary man. Therefore, we must take into account the presence of similar ideas, those of Pisarev, Nietzsche, and nihilism, as these might bring to light the possibility that Raskolnikov is not original, a possibility that haunts him throughout the novel.
Within the article Raskolnikov analyzes the psychology of a criminal before and after the crime. This main portion of the article is not discussed, but it is likely that the psychological explanation that Porfiry gives Raskolnikov later, in the examination, is very similar. During this later examination, Raskolnikov appears resentful, but never disputes what Porfiry tells him, perhaps because it is a regurgitation of Raskolnikov's own thoughts. In the last meeting of the two men, Porfiry admits that he liked the article very much, and actually felt a connection with it. The one part of the main body of the article that is...

...Crime and Punishment
The Mystery behind the Extraordinary Man
The difference in every person in life is the mysterious past behind them, something that not everyone wants to exploit to their audience. In Crime and Punishment, the dynamic protagonist Raskolnikov commits two murders and hides the truth from those around him. Throughout the story there are extreme courses of events that drive Raskolnikov to confess to these murders and prove to the world that there is no man above the law nor can that man act as god or in other words, there is no “extraordinary man” in existence.
In the beginning poor Raskolnikov had murdered Alyona the pawn broker simply for a desire to prove his superiority to the rest of humanity. But he also claims at times that he committed the crime for utilitarian reasons, that the death of such a despicable “louse” (Dostoevsky, Fyodor. Crime and Punishment. Trans. Richard Pevear and LarissaVolokhonsky. [New York: Vintage Books, 1992] 65) would increase society’s overall happiness or that he did it solely out of a need for money. Forgetting to lock the door behind him Raskolnikov was forced to kill Alyona’s sister Lizaveta. Leaving the crime scene with the corruption of the yellow walls being tainted by blood Raskolnikov leaves the door open and exits the ‘home. This was his first taste of being an “extraordinary man” by taking...

...of the murder to the final realization of love.
Raskolikov's mind goes through a series of stages as he progresses from the time of the murder to his eventual realization of love. At first, he believes that he is separated from society entirely and isn't the same as most people. In essence, Raskolinov believes that he isn't the same as most people and even considers himself above them. However, it is this very belief that isolates him from the rest of the world. Raskolikov puts this lonely life upon himself by believing that he is a “superman” or Ubermench. He doesn't just think that he is above people's way of thinking either; he believes that he is above all morals and ethics as well.
The reason why Raskolikov commits the crime is to affirm the truth in his head that he is above all, including life and death. Even after committing the murder, he pushes away the notion that he could be wrong because he needs to have the feeling of superiority. It is only In the end of the novel, when he confesses and goes to jail in Siberia that Raskolikov finds that surrendering to the beauty of emotion and love and equality (not superiority) that his mind is finally more sane then it was. In that realization of love, Raskolikov changes his thoughts on himself to that of an equal and in doing so, enters himself back into society.
2.Explain the “superior man” argument and evaluate Raskolinkov by the theory.
In Raskolikov's mind in the beginning...

...greatest tests of mankind is the test of extraordinaire, to see whether one is extraordinary or simply the average man. Published in 1866, Dostoevsky’s Crime and Punishment, set in St. Petersburg, Russia, describes the story of the young Russian student Raskolnikov, who through the murder of the Ivanovna sisters, attempts to identify himself as either the common man or the so-called “extraordinary” man. The extraordinary man is characterized by his ability to transgress moral laws to support his idea and to be self-serving and detached from the rest of society. They are higher than the average man in thought and in ideas: all men strive to be extraordinary. Though not truly an extraordinary man, Raskolnikov embodies a “superior” man, one who is able to think higher than the common man but whose reasoning behind motives deem him not worthy of the title “extraordinary,” as demonstrated by his different rationalizations and theories for his crime.
Raskolnikov is not the average man. In fact, he has the potential to be the complete opposite, the esteemed “extraordinary” man, defined as one “who, above good and evil, may transgress any law that stands in the way of his uttering a ‘new word’” (Beebe 154). Among three possible motives that which during the course of the novel rise to his awareness and become reasons for his crime, the first motive is Raskolnikov’s wish to rob and murder Alyona Ivanovna to make him “a...

...Value Change Essay- 3rd Draft
In Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky, the main character, Raskolnikov, develops throughout the novel and ultimately becomes a dynamic character. Raskolnikov first seems as an individual who struggles with conforming to society and believes in his superiority. As he comes back to reality and realizes his human identity, Raskolnikov’s thought process becomes complex. His personality and ideas alter from beginning to end due to influences such as Svidrigailov, Sonya, and his essentially good conscience. Raskolnikov experiences a revelation with his values and thinking changing completely. In the beginning of Crime and Punishment, Raskolnikov is portrayed bluntly as one who feels superior to society and shows pride, but as he comes to terms with reality throughout the book, he develops as a dynamic character, changing from self-centered values to ordinary values such as family and religion.
When Dostoevsky first introduces the reader to Raskolnikov, Raskolnikov believes he displays no flaws especially in his ability to rationally think. He perceives himself as superior to the human race and holds an interesting disgust for them which is conveyed through his distaste for human interaction. Raskolnikov obsesses his mind with the idea of getting rid of the pawnbroker for the betterment of the poverty-rich society, which he believes depends on him. His mind is completely consumed...

...There is a thin line between good and evil. “Great men smash laws, smash old ways, in order to create new ones, great men are not afraid to by criminals,”( Raskolnikov). In Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s legendary Russian novel Crime and Punishment, Rodion Romanovitch Raskolnikov (Rodya, Rodenka, or Rodka), commits murder for the idea that great men can break laws and get away with it. Never afraid to tackle the complex topics of humanity, Dostoyevsky plays the role of “Devil’s Advocate” and directs the reader to contemplate their personal perception of what is good and what is evil. I’m going to further dissect and state personal opinions on Raskolnikov’s theory, as well as show the correlation between Pre-20th Century Russian Literary works and what is essentially Russian about Russian Literature.
This theory has been called the “extraordinary man” theory by critics of the novel. About half way through the story, Dostoyevsky decides to bless us with an article that Rodya wrote and had published in an accredited news journal. Basically, the article reveals Raskolnikov’s inner workings and the idea that men are separated into “ordinary” and “extraordinary.” The so called ordinary men are expected to follow all laws placed by authority. However; the extraordinary men are able to break the laws placed forth by society. This is how Raskolnikov justifies killing the pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna and her sister Lizaveta Ivanovna. He believes himself to be...

...Suparshva Parikh
Mrs. Weiner
AP English IV
11/26/12
The Redemption Cycle
The development of theme is an intricate process that combines various elements of the novel. This fusion of diversified elements of the novel serves to highlight pertinent characteristics of the theme. In Crime and Punishment, Fyodor Dostoevsky utilizes the development of secondary characters and Raskolnikov’s guilt to depict the idea of redemption. The characters of Sonya and Svidrigailov represent the polar ends of Raskolnikov’s personality, and highlight the “process of spiritual regeneration” (Telgen and Hile 76) that Raskolnikov must follow for rehabilitation. Raskolnikov and Svidrigailov’s erratic dreams and Raskolnikov’s strange behavioral patterns upon committing the murder highlight the influences of guilt. These factors are utilized by Dostoevsky in order to highlight the fundamental concept of the cycle of redemption.
The secondary characters in the novel serve to accentuate certain characteristics of Raskolnikov that in turn project the central idea of the novel. The most effective of Dostoevsky’s secondary characters are Svidrigailov and Sonya. While Svidrigailov is the “philosophic embodiment of Raskolnikov’s desire to be above morality” (Wasiolek 22), Sonya is the innocence and rehabilitation that Rodya seeks. Both characters highlight some of Raskolnikov’s contrasting characteristics.
The power of these connections is evident in Svidrigailov’s...